The Animator

i’ve only once gotten to experience having a good friend, but turns out she’s actually really toxic. and i moved schools and saw all these people with their friends, talking and laughing, but i can’t talk to people at all. i can’t even look people in the eyes and my heart races every time someone starts talking to me. and when someone tries to be my friend i don’t know what to say and i get really nervous and then they get up to leave. i can’t help it, i just don’t know why im so bad at talking to people

also im not saying that all my friends on ta aren’t good friends, just talking about the people in real life

its ok to take time to get over social anxiety, it happens to everyone, maybe try going to therapy? i know its not available to everyone but there are some free online ones out there. <3

i want to ask my dad so bad but im too scared. maybe i can find a free online therapist

sorry, didn’t read the last part. but ty <33

i'm really sorry, but things will get better

i used to have really bad social anxiety

once i made a few friends on TA i was able to start speaking up a bit more after a few months, then i made a small group of friends after realizing that we like similar things

I really hope the same for you, to the right people that'll be your side

like onyx said, therapy can help but i'd like to give some advice that helped me

- to become more sociable, i started opening up little by little. like, when holding the door for someone, they often say thank you and i'd have trouble saying you're welcome. at first i mumbled, then promised that i'd at least try to nod and say mhm. i got better at it over time, and now i say you're welcome pretty loudly whenever someone says thank you (which i need to work on now).

- i also talk to myself, a *lot*, which helped. i felt like i could express myself more clearly if i just talked to myself about anything. i would argue or rant to myself about stuff for up to 2 hours at night sometimes, and it definitely helped me when I was anxious, upset, excited, etc. journaling and talking to my stuffed animals have helped a lot. i guess it was because i can get my point across without having to leave anything out or feeling judge.

- if it's something more personal, like self esteem, i can always help you if you need to talk :)

I'm sorry if this comes out as vague or something, i wanted to get my point across without telling my whole life story